[Raleigh did what he was supposed to do, what he had to do to seal this alliance and make this an actual marriage. But he didn't enjoy it that much, not really at all, because in the end, she's not Mako and she doesn't know what he likes and it was just-- different. Not even trying to pretend it was Mako really worked for very long. Mako had been nervous and shy too their first time together and he gets that, but Mako also eased away from that, reached out for what she wanted and wasn't too shy to ask for it for very long and Naomi more or less deferred to him all night, because he's the king and that's-- not what he wants.
He wants to be challenged, he wants a partnership, he wants Mako, he wants Naomi to be pregnant from this one night purely because he doesn't care much about trying to make an heir with a woman he doesn't love or even desire. Then again, he and Mako have been lovers for years and there's been no child there, and there's really no way to know if that's him or her and maybe they will be looking to his sister's young son as his heir.
Raleigh leaves to go back to his room as soon as he can, because he needs to bathe and change and get ready for this day. Just because he's married, doesn't mean the entire kingdom has stopped. He isn't sure if he expects Mako to be there or not, until he walks in and is completely unsurprised to find her there, getting dressed for the day and it's stupid, silly but Raleigh feels a flash of guilt for coming in the way he is.
Coming back from another woman's bed, even if it's his wife's because Mako has his heart. He feels like he broke a promise to her somehow, like he's betrayed her. He wants to reach for her but feels too dirty to actually do it.]
[ Except Mako was the one who persuaded him to accept it, to marry her because she knows he would be torn between duty and love if she doesn't speak up -- Mako's job is to make things easier for him, because Raleigh has always ever been a good king, and she doesn't want to be the one who changes that.
She knows he's been miserable, that he had gone into this union unwillingly, and when he comes back into his chambers while she's dressing, she simply bows her head, just a little, in response. He looks guilty, and she knows exactly why; she knows, too, that he has nothing to be ashamed about. It is their lot in life, isn't it, that Mako is never to enjoy a marriage with Raleigh, to never be his wedded wife and queen, that any child of his borne by her would be a bastard even if he has royal blood flowing in his veins.
Perhaps it's all for the best that she hadn't been able to bear him any children ever since they became lovers, especially now, when Mako has a new queen to contend with; and it's not unheard of for jealous queens to poison the children of their husband's lovers -- no woman takes kindly to the spawn her husband has with his mistress.
Only this time, Raleigh was hers first. She reads his guilt, and seeks to dispel it, and she gently responds with three words no one would have the balls to say to the king. ] Come over here.
[Raleigh's hers first and always, it doesn't matter who he's married to now or where he's just coming from. She's the only one he listens to, that he lets order him around, who comes when she says to. Even though he feels dirty, and like he's let her down somehow, even if she was the one to push him into doing it, because it was the right thing for his people.
Sometimes Raleigh hates being king. He hates Yancy for dying before his time, dying without an heir of his own and leaving this all on him because it really means, at the end of the day that he can't have the one thing he really wants.
He approaches her slowly, keeping his eyes on her the entire way.]
[ She's his, too, that even if she orders him around, she knows that her life is his. She knows his moods and she knows that he's unhappy. Mako meets his gaze with a steady grace, only reaching out when he's close enough, and pulling him into an embrace.
It doesn't matter if it's another woman's smell on him, if it's her perfume that he's been stained with. She just wants to know this: ]
[About a second after he asks it, does Raleigh realize that was perhaps a stupid question since she doesn't really have a separate room of her own. She's always insisted on sleeping in his, her cot is still in the corner even if it goes completely unused anymore. So of course she spent the entire night here, and he feels guilty again because he doubts that she slept much because this has never happened to them before.
They haven't spent a night apart since he accepted her into his service. Until right now.
Raleigh leans into her, coming to frame her face with his hands.]
[ Stupid question or not, it doesn't matter -- all that matters is that he's still hers, that he hasn't changed his mind during the course of the night. His affection and devotion runs deeper than that, she knows, but sometimes she worries.
Squeezing him briefly, she leans into his hands, letting herself enjoy the warmth of his touch again, the gentleness of his handling. They hadn't spent a night separately before, and it had been unpleasantly unfamiliar in ways she doesn't look forward to repeating.
[Raleigh moves to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. One night away from her isn't enough to make him change his mind about her, or what he feels for her. It just makes him miss her more, his beautiful warrior.]
[ There's a weight that lifts off her shoulders at that gesture of affection, a worry that eases just a little, because yes, he's still hers, she's the one he asks for things like these, and she smirks, leaning up to kiss the side of his mouth. ]
[If he asked his queen for help with bathing, she'd probably faint. She's used to a certain lifestyle and that is alright, it's something he can provide for her. He's not lacking in funds but Mako's been to war, been at his side for years, doesn't expect people to wait on her.]
Yes, thank you. I think I need your help to undress too.
[ Mako's smile widens, before her hands move down the soft linen of his shirt, over his chest. Undoing the clasp of his luxurious robe, she pushes it off his shoulders, tugging at the hem of the shirt.
Mako doesn't mind waiting on him the way a wife would her husband, and she gives him a lazy grin. He smells like sex, like another woman, but she doesn't care about it right now. ]
[Raleigh cares. Enough that even though her touches interests him, captures his full attention, a little part of him wants scrub away the stink of last night before he goes to her fully. So he raises his arms when she tugs at his shirt, and tosses it off to the side once it's over his head.]
[ Mako tuts when he tosses it off to the side, particular enough to go and get it, folding it neatly before depositing it into the basket that is to be laundered. ]
You can't just throw your garments everywhere. [ She gently admonishes, before she reaches for the cloth and soap, scented and rich. She gestures to his trousers, then the tub, amusement glinting in her eyes. ]
[He's the king, he can throw his clothes wherever he feels like it. Which he proves by kicking his trousers off to the side once he pulls them down, smirking at her the entire time. Raleigh climbs into the tub, catching her hand and tugging her over so she can't go clean up after him.
He wants here over here, with him right now. The trousers on the floor can wait. They won't go anywhere or be ruined for sitting there for a while.]
[ And Mako does. Well, the way he holds on to her and makes sure she doesn't get to clean up after him pretty much makes sure of that, right? She huffs, before allowing herself to be drawn over to him, her eyes bright with amusement.
It doesn't help that he looks great naked, really. ]
Leave it and do what, Your Majesty? [ She teases, low and quiet. ] You're a terrible brat.
[ She steps nearer to him, tiptoeing to wrap an arm loosely around his neck. It takes some creative shifting, and she tilts her face up to kiss the side of his mouth, lingering. ]
[ Mako usually takes the lead on these things -- but it's nice to hear Raleigh pretty much telling her he wants to dominate at this point. ] Let's assume I do. What would be my reward?
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He wants to be challenged, he wants a partnership, he wants Mako, he wants Naomi to be pregnant from this one night purely because he doesn't care much about trying to make an heir with a woman he doesn't love or even desire. Then again, he and Mako have been lovers for years and there's been no child there, and there's really no way to know if that's him or her and maybe they will be looking to his sister's young son as his heir.
Raleigh leaves to go back to his room as soon as he can, because he needs to bathe and change and get ready for this day. Just because he's married, doesn't mean the entire kingdom has stopped. He isn't sure if he expects Mako to be there or not, until he walks in and is completely unsurprised to find her there, getting dressed for the day and it's stupid, silly but Raleigh feels a flash of guilt for coming in the way he is.
Coming back from another woman's bed, even if it's his wife's because Mako has his heart. He feels like he broke a promise to her somehow, like he's betrayed her. He wants to reach for her but feels too dirty to actually do it.]
Morning.
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She knows he's been miserable, that he had gone into this union unwillingly, and when he comes back into his chambers while she's dressing, she simply bows her head, just a little, in response. He looks guilty, and she knows exactly why; she knows, too, that he has nothing to be ashamed about. It is their lot in life, isn't it, that Mako is never to enjoy a marriage with Raleigh, to never be his wedded wife and queen, that any child of his borne by her would be a bastard even if he has royal blood flowing in his veins.
Perhaps it's all for the best that she hadn't been able to bear him any children ever since they became lovers, especially now, when Mako has a new queen to contend with; and it's not unheard of for jealous queens to poison the children of their husband's lovers -- no woman takes kindly to the spawn her husband has with his mistress.
Only this time, Raleigh was hers first. She reads his guilt, and seeks to dispel it, and she gently responds with three words no one would have the balls to say to the king. ] Come over here.
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Sometimes Raleigh hates being king. He hates Yancy for dying before his time, dying without an heir of his own and leaving this all on him because it really means, at the end of the day that he can't have the one thing he really wants.
He approaches her slowly, keeping his eyes on her the entire way.]
Did you stay in here all night?
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[ She's his, too, that even if she orders him around, she knows that her life is his. She knows his moods and she knows that he's unhappy. Mako meets his gaze with a steady grace, only reaching out when he's close enough, and pulling him into an embrace.
It doesn't matter if it's another woman's smell on him, if it's her perfume that he's been stained with. She just wants to know this: ]
Are you still mine, my King?
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They haven't spent a night apart since he accepted her into his service. Until right now.
Raleigh leans into her, coming to frame her face with his hands.]
Always. She means nothing to me compared to you.
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Squeezing him briefly, she leans into his hands, letting herself enjoy the warmth of his touch again, the gentleness of his handling. They hadn't spent a night separately before, and it had been unpleasantly unfamiliar in ways she doesn't look forward to repeating.
She smiles briefly. ]
I was a little jealous.
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[Raleigh moves to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. One night away from her isn't enough to make him change his mind about her, or what he feels for her. It just makes him miss her more, his beautiful warrior.]
I need to clean up. If you want to help?
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Shall I run your bath for you, Your Majesty?
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Yes, thank you. I think I need your help to undress too.
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Mako doesn't mind waiting on him the way a wife would her husband, and she gives him a lazy grin. He smells like sex, like another woman, but she doesn't care about it right now. ]
Do you need my help with anything else?
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You might have to wash my back.
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You can't just throw your garments everywhere. [ She gently admonishes, before she reaches for the cloth and soap, scented and rich. She gestures to his trousers, then the tub, amusement glinting in her eyes. ]
Take that off and get in, then.
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He wants here over here, with him right now. The trousers on the floor can wait. They won't go anywhere or be ruined for sitting there for a while.]
Leave it. I mean it.
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It doesn't help that he looks great naked, really. ]
Leave it and do what, Your Majesty? [ She teases, low and quiet. ] You're a terrible brat.
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[Raleigh says softly, keeping her hand in his, but looser now, a lover's hold and not just trying to keep her from tidying up.]
I wouldn't seem like such a brat if you took more initiative.
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Are you complaining, my King?
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You need more discipline, I think.
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[ Oh, that's an interesting proposal: she's listening. Accepting his kiss with a sweet smile, she asks, ] What kind of discipline?
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